Health

Long-term follow-up of idiopathic chronic pericardial effusion

Article Abstract:

Many people with idiopathic chronic pericardial effusion can live a normal life with no serious health problems. Pericardial effusion is a build-up of fluid around the heart. When it persists for more than three months and has no apparent cause, it is called idiopathic chronic pericardial effusion. In a study of 28 such patients who were followed for up to 20 years, 13 had no symptoms when the condition was first detected. Twenty-nine percent developed cardiac tamponade, a life-threatening condition. Many were adequately treated by draining the excess fluid or removing the membrane that surrounds the heart.

An experiment to evaluate whether vasodilator treatment can minimize the left ventricular volume and mass and enhance left ventricular functioning in patients with aortic regurgitation is undertaken. Prolonged vasodilator treatment with nifedipine or enalapril did not minimize or postpone the need for aortic-valve replacement in patients, neither did the aortic regurgitant volume and the size of the left ventricle decrease and the treatment did not enhance the left ventricular performance.

An experiment to evaluate whether vasodilator treatment can minimize the left ventricular volume and mass and enhance left ventricular functioning in patients with aortic regurgitation is undertaken. Prolonged vasodilator treatment with nifedipine or enalapril did not minimize or postpone the need for aortic-valve replacement in patients, neither did the aortic regurgitant volume and the size of the left ventricle decrease and the treatment did not enhance the left ventricular performance.